MODEL FARMS HIGH SCHOOL NEWSLETTER

EsMODEL FARMS HIGH SCHOOLNEWSLETTERACHIEVING PERSONAL EXCELLENCE THROUGH QUALITY TEACHINGPhone: 9624 3133Fax: 9838 8407Email: modelfarms-h.school@det.nsw.edu.auMONDAY 17th October 2011ISSUE 28PRINCIPAL REPORTStudent AachievementsI was delighted to hear at the end of last termthat Tahnee Cook, one of our very creativeYear 11 students, had won 1st place in theAPEX Australia Teenage Fashion Awards fora formal dress she designed and made for thecompetition. Tahnee received the highesttechnical score in the NSW/ACT finals and isnow off the National Awards with her dress.I’m sure we will hear wonderful things aboutthis young designer and seamstress in thefuture.conditions were quite challenging and Jamiedid well to come out on top.Congratulations to both students on theirachievements.GraduationYear 12 graduated at the end of last term and itwas a delight to officiate at that ceremony. Thecelebrations that the school already has inplace for such an occasion are warm andrewarding for all concerned and it is a fitfulway to mark the end of 6 years at high school.The students were in high spirits celebratingthe end of an era while mindful of the need toprepare for their exams which begin nextweek. Hopefully they have had a calm butproductive two weeks and engaged in somestructured and focused revision.All the staff wishes them good luck for theirexams and will continue to support themthroughout the 4 week period at the end ofwhich they can relax and enjoy their formal.Jaime Swavley of Year 9 was successful overthe weekend when she sailed in the RoyalPrince Alfred Yacht Club Regatta at Pittwaterand won the Spring Cup. The previousweekend Jaime sailed in the NSW YouthChampionships on Lake Illawarra and waspresented a third place medallion from theMinister for Sport. Apparently the weatherWork ExperienceYear 10 were on work experience for the lastweek of term 3 and it was terrific to hear thatthey all not only behaved while in a differentlearning environment but enjoyed themselvesand benefitted from the experience as well.Work experience is a valuable exercisebecause it can consolidate a student’s decisionabout their chosen future career or have theWWW.MODELFARMS-H.SCHOOLS.NSW.EDU.AU

Esopposite effect as well. This sort of careerplanning is very important in the 21st centurywhere there are so many options available toyoung workers that it can be difficult to choosewhich path to travel.To all parents and work places who wereinvolved in arranging or facilitating workexperience for our students I say thank you foryour commitment and service to Model FarmsHigh School. We couldn’t do it without you.Selling ChocolatesThe school executive, in consultation with theP&C and School Council has decided that theselling of chocolates for fund raising purposeswill no longer be permitted here at the school.This decision was made for a number ofreasons and these included that we support thehealthy canteen policy; the security riskscaused by students carrying large amount ofmoney with them; the abuse of the charitablenature of such fundraising for personal gain.Students who bring chocolate boxes to schoolwill now have them confiscated and returned tothem at the end of the day to avoid andunpleasantness. I look forward to your supportin this matter.NAPLAN ResultsA full analysis of the NAPLAN results iscurrently being undertaken so that futureteaching and learning can be guided by thedata and information it produces. Generally theresults were very pleasing with no glaringlyobvious anomalies highlighted. However, thereis always room for improvement and facultieswill be working on literacy and numeracyplans that will target any areas that requirework for 2012.School Certificate review Q&A for teachersand parentsThere appears to be some confusion amongstudents and parents about the future of theSchool Certificate and this is quiteunderstandable given the lack of concreteinformation that has been openly publishedabout the decision to discontinue with theexternal exams from 2012 onwards. Some ofour students incorrectly believe that there willnot be a School Certificate next year. In factthere will still be a School Certificate just not aSchool Certificate exam. I have publishedbelow and extract of Frequently AskedQuestions from the Board of Studies website inorder to provide further clarifications.Q: How will students going into Year 10 in2012 be affected?A: Students going into Year 10 in 2012 will nothave to sit for state-wide, external SchoolCertificate tests in 2012.Commencing with students entering Year 10 in2012, a new credential will be provided toeligible students who choose to leave schoolprior to obtaining their HSC. Further detailsof the new credential will be released by thestart of 2012.Q: Will schools still need to submit entries forYear 10 students with the Board of Studies?A: Yes. As usual, entries for students goinginto Year 10 in 2012 will open at the start ofTerm 1, 2012.Q: Will there be any differences in thecurriculum requirements for Year 10 in 2012?A: No. Mandatory curriculum requirementsare unchanged from those that currently apply.Q: Will schools still need to record and submitstudent grades?A: Yes. Schools will continue to submit gradesfor Stage 5 courses in the same way as they donow.Q: What will be the deadline for submittinggrades in 2012?A: The Board will set a deadline as late aspossible, to give teachers the maximum time toteach and assess their Year 10 students. It isexpected that the deadline will be around theend of November.Q: In 2012 there will be no School Certificatetests in Term 4. Does this mean that Year 11work can start early?WWW.MODELFARMS-H.SCHOOLS.NSW.EDU.AU

EsA: No. There is no change to the startingdate for Year 11 as a result of the introductionof a new credential. There is no change to therule that Year 11 work cannot start prior toDay 1 Term 1 of Year 11.Q: What happens to students who repeat oraccelerate and students who come frominterstate or overseas?A: The Board will put transition measures inplace to deal with these cases.Q: When will I be able to have my say?A: The Board will release a model of the newcredential for comment in the coming weeks.Christina BennetPrincipalDeputy ReportWelcome back to Term 4. It is importantthat students remain focused and workingduring this term. All students should bewearing full school uniform including thecorrect shoes and socks. Years 7 – 9 alsohave their yearly exams this term andneed to ensure they attend all classes andmaximize their learning so they canachieve their full potential.Year 10 will soon be sitting their SchoolCertificate and it is essential that they arein class and working so they can achievethe best possible results. There are someYear 10 students with outstanding NAwards, these need to be redeemed assoon as possible to avoid receiving a NDetermination for the School Certificate.Year 12 begin the HSC on 17/10 and wewish them all the best.Good Luck Year 12.Jackie DaltonRelieving Deputy PrincipalCALENDARTERM 4WEEK 2Mon 17/10 HSC BeginsTues 18/10 HSCYr 7 Maths Exam 1Yr 8 Maths Exam 17y3 Boxer Shorts Assignment8Z3 Letter Writing Activity DueWed 19/10 HSCMary Poppins MusicalCapital TheatreThur 20/10 HSCYr 7 Maths Exam 2Yr 8 Maths Exam 2Case of Conspiracy – SelectedYr 8Yr 7 visual Arts Assignment DueFri 21/10HSCWEEK 3Mon 24/10HSCYr 8 History Incursion Group 1Tues 25/10 HSCYr 8 History Incursion Group 2Wed 26/10 HSCThur 27/10 HSCFri 28/10HSCWEEK 4Mon 31/10Tues 1/11Wed 2/11Thur 3/11Fri 4/11HSCHSCYr 9 Maths Exam 1HSCHSCYr 9 Maths Exam 2Primary LinksHSCMerit AwardsBronze AwardsYear 7Emma McAlonanAiden KellyAndrew SiedlarzYear 8Josephine RizkoWWW.MODELFARMS-H.SCHOOLS.NSW.EDU.AUYear 11Alex Lawless

EsStudent Planner FocusJunior – Whole Brain LearningMiddle - Whole Brain LearningSenior – Whole Brain LearningSpecific Aims and Objectives - at the endof this week students should have: An understanding of what roles eachside of their brains plays in their learning. An enhanced self awareness to knowhow and when they are using each sideof their brains in their learning. A willingness to leave their comfortzones and invite the non dominant sideof their brains into their learning. An aroused curiosity to want to learnmore about how their brains function.Weekly Focus:Our brains are composed of two separatehalves, the left brain and the right brain, whicheach has a different function to perform. Forexample, when music is playing, one sidehears the tunes, while the other side hears thewords.The left brain controls the right side of ourbodies and its strengths lie in working with: Numbers and order Looking for patterns and connections tohow things relate to our worldMost people, including students, have adominant side which influences how they thinkabout and approach things. In manyinstructional learning and teaching settings, itis the left side which is almost solely doing thethinking – listening to and processing logical,ordered and step by step teaching; veryclinical and neat. While often in class, the righthand side is not involved and not providedwith an opportunity to explore, look forpatterns, relate and make connections to whatit already knows.To utilise the strengths of the whole brain,learning and teaching needs to be structuredso that both sides of students’ brains (andours) have an opportunity to participate. Whileteaching Maths years ago, a student wasdaydreaming in class and I asked him what hewas doing. He answered he was thinking, towhich I replied stop that and get on with yourwork – I effectively said only use your leftbrain.Encouragingdescribed inenable themtheir brainsdeeply.students to use the techniquesthe focus on brain learning willto effectively use both sides ofto learn more powerfully and“When the brain is thinking, it is talking toitself.” Edward De Bono Logic Time and motion Verbal and written Relating to our formallearning and teachinginstructionalAre you learning to drive?Then allow us to teach you The right brain controls the left side of ourbodies and its strengths lie in working with: Visual imagery and perspectives Creating, experimenting and imagining Music and rhythm Lateral daydreaming and intuitive thoughtWe are a family owned business based in the HillsDistrict. Your instructor, Peter, is a former policeofficer with over 25 years experience. Peter holdsa Certificate IV in Driving Instruction and aCertificate IV in Training & Assessment.We have single lessons, multi lesson packages andgift certificates S-H.SCHOOLS.NSW.EDU.AU